|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 18, 2008 10:22:03 GMT -5
After Mary-Ellen managed to find her way in to get ready for the day, she ended up finding Dora was too busy dealing with morning business.
During breakfast, Mary-Ellen was introduced to Jake, Mart and Shale (2 human mem and a dwarf... dwarf), who deal with moving around the hay and crops. During her 20-minute orientation, they explained how to grab bails, what machines to not touch or steer clear of and to lift with her legs.
The work is pretty mindless, but busy enough they doN,t get bored. Plus, Shale has a good tenor and sings a lot.
The first pile they point out, Mart calls the beginner's pile. "It's simple. Move these onto the flatbed" He says, chuckling. "Shale'll be on the bed to catch them. Don't be afraid to use all your strength, now, missy." He says. Jake chuckles.
The two humans head towards one of the feed barns as Shale climbs on, grumbling about how high he has to climb.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 18, 2008 14:06:57 GMT -5
Enjoying Shale's singing as she works, Mary Ellen has fun baling the hay, being careful to follow all the instructions they had given her during her orientation. Grinning, she replies to Mart "I'll do my best." She then grabs the first bale and tests it to see how heavy it is and how hard it is for her to lift it before moving it onto the flatbed.
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 18, 2008 20:36:25 GMT -5
The bales aren't too heavy. Mary-Ellen, despite her slight little frame, appears to be quite strong.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 18, 2008 20:46:16 GMT -5
Mary Ellen grins to herself as she notices that the bales of hay aren't that heavy at all. Continuing to move the bales of hay, she is glad that she seemed to be in shape before her accident. Carefully, she tests to see if she can carry it one handed, but if it's too heavy, she'll quickly adjust to carrying it with 2 hands again.
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 18, 2008 20:52:52 GMT -5
Shale watched with amusement as Mary-Ellen seemed stronger than she appeared. "Now, toss'em up, girl, so we can truck'em out to the barns." Comes the throaty dwarvish tenor. "An' hold off lookin' so strong till you can show up them grunts there." The Dwarf added, pointing to Jake and Mart.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 19, 2008 0:26:10 GMT -5
Mary Ellen grins at Shale and nods with a winks playfully as she starts to toss the bales of hay where they need to go, not struggling, but not showing off until the opportune moment.
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 19, 2008 12:04:17 GMT -5
As they get into a rhythm, Shale teaches Mary-Ellen some Dwarvish back-and-forth working songs. Eventually the first day was done as they heard the dinner bell.
Tossing the final bails into the feed barn, the foursome make their way to the kitchen. The food smelled delicious, especially after the day's work.
As they sat and ate, Edeline found her and saddled in next to her. After only eating for a few minutes, Edeline's head perks up, and she beams at Mary-Ellen, then scoots off from the table. Dora calls "Edeline, please eat you..." She was interrupted as Edeline squals happily at the thumping of boots and the opening of the front door.
"Pumpkin, happy to see you t--ooof!" Said a solid voice out in the hall. Over Edeline's chatter, the man says, "Now, slow down, kiddo. Start from the beginning..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 19, 2008 18:16:13 GMT -5
Mary Ellen is smiling, even though she is a bit tired from the day's activities and is glad that she was able to help and not just be in the way.
As she eats supper with a renewed appetite, she looks curious when Edeline bolts from the table and seems to be talking with someone. 'I guess that's her dad' she thinks to herself.
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 20, 2008 15:20:41 GMT -5
Edeline's voice seems to be getting closer. "And she's very nice, and you'll like her, and her name's Mary-Ellen - well that's not her name, so I gave her one - and the horses all seem to like her, sort of and..."
"Alright, alright. I'll meet her." Says the man, interrupting Edeline.
Around the corner comes a tallish man who looks sort of cowboyish. A full 6 feet tall and twice as broad as Mary-Ellen, the clomps into the room. Dora looks displeased but seems to be willing to let the discretion of boots in the kitchen pass.
"This is her, daddy!" Proclaims Edeline.
Cola whispers to her sister "Should we have a fanfare?"
"Well, Miss Mary-Ellen, I'm Gus Manchester. This being my ranch and all." Says the cowboy, putting his hand out. He looks easily in his late fifties, and well-weathered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 20, 2008 18:48:01 GMT -5
Mary Ellen smiles politely at Gus and says "It's nice to meet you." Standing up to shake his hand, she adds "I really appreciate all that you and Dora have done to take care of me while I was hurt."
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 21, 2008 18:38:24 GMT -5
Gus shakes her hand good and hard back. "Well, pleasure to meet ya." He says, "And of course we're glad to help. Good to know we found an honest person to help."
"Well, take a seat, and finish your supper." He says, pulling a piece of hay off her shirt. "You've been working and need the food."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 21, 2008 21:55:19 GMT -5
Mary Ellen smiles and nods "Ok." She then sits back down and resumes eating her meal, chatting quietly with the others folks at the table.
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 22, 2008 19:29:04 GMT -5
"... I don't know, I haven't seen bite marks like it." Gus says to Dora, quietly, as Edeline busies herself with food. "Probably a predator from elsewhere on the island." He adds, lifting food to his mount. "But, two bite marks?"
This sounds familiar...
|
|
|
|
Post by Mierin on Jan 22, 2008 20:34:46 GMT -5
Mary Ellen looks over at Gus and Dora and asks quietly "What happened? Something got bitten?"
(tag)
|
|
|
|
Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 23, 2008 11:18:15 GMT -5
"Hmm?" Gus mumbled, through the food in his mouth. "Oh, nothing. Just something attacking the herds. Weirdest thing, though, they have firepits big as a man, but we never see smoke, and they leave one unburned piece of wood behind..."
Gus shakes his head, noticing the table all listening to him. Patting Edeline on the head, he says, soothingly to the group, "It's all just superstitions. They're rustlers, plain and simple, and they're trying to rattle us. But we won't let'em, will we?"
"No, sir!" Says Edeline proudly. The table chuckles. "What?" She asks.
|
|
